Moscow, 9 September 1997 (RFE/RL) - Russia's State Historical Museum, a landmark building off Moscow's Red Square, today partially reopened after 11 years of renovation.
The Museum opened 13 of its over 40 exhibition rooms in a ceremony attended by Russian Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin, and representatives of the federal government, the city administration and the Russian Orthodox Church.
Chernomyrdin said the museum's closed doors had become "a reproach to the government." He promised that the cabinet would find money to finish the restoration work in the near future.
The museum, aimed at chronicling Russian life, culture and religion, houses an extensive collection of artifacts dating back to ancient times.
The Museum opened 13 of its over 40 exhibition rooms in a ceremony attended by Russian Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin, and representatives of the federal government, the city administration and the Russian Orthodox Church.
Chernomyrdin said the museum's closed doors had become "a reproach to the government." He promised that the cabinet would find money to finish the restoration work in the near future.
The museum, aimed at chronicling Russian life, culture and religion, houses an extensive collection of artifacts dating back to ancient times.